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Joint Civil Society Statement:
Filipinos Call for Systemic Reform After the Flood Control Scandal

05 September 2025 – We the Filipino people express indignation at the multibillion peso flood control scandal that has harmed and killed our fellow Filipinos in a climate crisis that brings our country even deadlier storms.

We express our outrage at government officials, politicontractors, private sector parties–and their family and relatives–who unabashedly flaunt their lavish lifestyles as they steal our hard-earned taxpayer money.

We have had enough. We need to escape this vicious cycle. We must reject the system of corruption that kills our fellow Filipinos and erodes our confidence in government.

We demand that this corrupt system be replaced with a system of transparency, accountability, and people’s participation that makes it harder to be bad and easier to be good:

  1. First, we call on the DPWH and DBM to convene an independent multisectoral review committee of scientists, civil society groups, and local communities to study current projects and resubmit 2026 proposals based on proper science. The government must move away from mostly cement-based flood control infrastructure towards nature-based flood management solutions like reforestation, watershed restoration, and other sustainable solutions rooted in broader principles of integrated water resource management. The committee must review existing studies of the country’s 18 major river basins, and ensure that projects follow the 5Rs: the right projects, at the right cost, with the right quality, implemented by the right people, delivered right on time. We call on the President to veto projects that do not adhere to proper science, to send a credible message to Congress.
  2. Second, we call on the House and Senate to end the abusive practice of opaque congressional insertions, especially in the bicameral conference committee. We call for an #OpenBicam and an #OpenBudget transparency server that automatically reports online these project insertions. We call on Congress to give budget monitors enough time to review insertions, not just as token observers but as resource persons. Congressional insertions to the DPWH budget, prone to abuse, have ballooned since 2020, but reached record highs of net P540 billion from 2023 to 2025 under the current administration.
  3. Third, we call on the President and DPWH to provide full and genuine transparency in flood control projects in the past years. The Sumbong sa Pangulo website, while a laudable first step in transparency, includes less than half of the total value of flood control projects budgeted from 2018 to 2025. In the website, only 9,855 projects worth P547 billion were tagged completed, compared to the total P1.2 trillion flood control projects budgeted over the same time period. We list these critical documents in our detailed Appendix below.
  4. Fourth, we call on the President, DPWH, DBM, and SEC to improve the quality of people’s participation by freely and proactively disclosing documents for proper civic monitoring and potential citizens’ participatory audits with COA. We call on the DBM to fast-track the ultimate beneficial owners’ registry mandated under the New Government Procurement Act, and the open contracting data portal under the PhilGEPS as outlined in the country’s Open Government Challenge Commitment. We call on the government to learn lessons from local and global case studies such as Assam, India’s open contracting system which used flood risk maps to plan their interventions better, or Taiwan’s Government Procurement Integrity Platform that created a multisectoral body for big ticket infrastructure projects and required projects to set up websites with 24/7 CCTV monitoring and disclosure of contractor and project documents.
  5. Fifth, we call for accountability. Dapat may managot. Dapat maparusahan ang maysala. The government must prosecute not just the small fish but the masterminds behind this flood control scandal. We call on the President’s proposed independent commission to be led by representatives of unimpeachable integrity and competence. We call on investigation and enforcement bodies to investigate and file cases against executive branch officials, legislators, auditors, local officials, as well as private sector parties accountable for flood control and other projects exposed as corrupt. We call on the Bureau of Internal Revenue to investigate tax records and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to freeze the assets of parties related to the scandal. We call on the Commission on Audit to expand its fraud audit beyond Bulacan. We call on the COMELEC to investigate politicians who received campaign contributions from contractors who benefited from the flood control scandal. We call for the passage of a genuine Freedom of Information Law and a Beneficial Ownership Transparency Law to prevent this from happening again. We call on the President to appoint a truly independent Ombudsman that will fearlessly file cases, and lift the secrecy on Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. We call on civil society to revitalize a procurement integrity movement that empowers citizens to monitor how our taxpayer money is spent. 

We must make corruption shameful again. We must punish corruption again. We must all work together to root out this system of corruption that kills. We must replace it with a system of transparency, accountability, and people’s participation that empowers us to demand better and to ensure this never happens again. 

We Filipinos deserve better.

We detail our proposed reforms in the Appendix below.

Signed as of 5 September 2025:

By members from the church, scientific community, academe, civil society, business, military and uniformed personnel, labor, typhoon survivors, disaster response volunteers:

Organizations:

  1. PH Budget Watch
  2. Citizens’ Budget Tracker
  3. People’s Budget Coalition
  4. Tarabangan Bicol Disaster Volunteer Network
  5. De La Salle Brothers Philippines
  6. De La Salle Philippines
  7. Diocese of Kalookan – Public and Political Affairs Ministry
  8. Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
  9. Makati Business Club (MBC)
  10. Philippine Business for Education (PBED)
  11. Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX)
  12. Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP)
  13. Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE NGO)
  14. Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan (ANIM)
  15. MUP (Military & Uniformed Personnel) 4 United PH
  16. Dr. Jose P. Rizal Resource Foundation 
  17. Make It Safer Movement
  18. Youth for Peace and Development Movement – Camarines Norte 
  19. Angat Kabataan Pilipinas
  20. Affiliated Network for Social Accountability
  21. Mamamayang Liberal Partylist 
  22. Move As One Coalition 
  23. Bicol Pop
  24. Musika Publiko
  25. Rise Above Pilipinas
  26. National Confederation of Transportworkers’ Union
  27. Ateneo de Manila University
  28. Ateneo de Naga University
  29. Ateneo de Davao University
  30. Ateneo de Zamboanga University
  31. Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
  32. Xavier School San Juan
  33. Xavier School Nuvali 
  34. Loyola College Culion
  35. PHINMA Education
  36. PHINMA Araullo University
  37. PHINMA Cagayan De Oro College
  38. PHINMA University of Pangasinan
  39. PHINMA University of Iloilo
  40. Southwestern University PHINMA
  41. PHINMA Saint Jude College Manila
  42. PHINMA Saint Jude College Quezon City 
  43. PHINMA Rizal College of Laguna
  44. PHINMA Union College of Laguna
  45. PHINMA Saint Jude College Dasmariñas 
  46. Metro Naga Active Transport Community
  47. Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan (SLB)
  48. Advocates for National Interest (ANI)
  49. Concerned “Graduates of PMA”
  50. End Vote Buying Movement
  51. Bohol Civil Society
  52. SANDIG Youth Movement
  53. UP School of Economics Alumni Association
  54. FOI Youth Initiative 
  55. Green Party of the Philippines

  56. Bayanihan para sa Kalikasan Movement Inc.

  57. Global Responsibility for Environmental and Ecological Nurturing
  58. Bicycle Friendly Philippines 
  59. SafeTravelPH Mobility Innovations Organization
  60. Federation of Agriculture Cooperatives in Camarines Sur
  61. CycleSavers 
  62. Bicol Region Cooperative Development Council
  63. Camarines Sur Provincial Cooperative Development Council
  64. Naga City Cooperative Development Council
  65. Jimmely Integrated Farms & Enterprises
  66. Angat Pinas – Netherlands
  67. Candon Youth for Empowerment Movement, Inc.
  68. Haraya Projects Foundation
  69. Alyansa Tigil Mina 
  70. Safe and Sound Cities Naga 
  71. MBK – Madya Biyahe Kita Travel and Tours
  72. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
  73. Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (KALIPUNAN)
  74. Project Gunita
  75. Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa
  76. José W. Diokno Foundation, Inc
  77. Council of the Laity Kalookan
  78. Bedan Advocacy & Consciousness Enhancement Society (BACES)
  79. Agkaykaysa Coalition
  80. UST Biochemistry Alumni Association – Bicol Chapter
  81. UP Alyansa ng mga Mag-aaral para sa Panlipunang Katwiran at Kaunlaran (UP ALYANSA)
  82. GoodGovPH
  83. Komyut
  84. Commuters 4 Change (C4C)
  85. Alternatibong Katipunán ng mga Mag-aaral sa UP (AKMA UP)
  86. UP Manila Master of Public Health (Epidemiology) – Bicol Chapter
  87. Digital Democrats
  88. Tindig Pilipinas
  89. Akbayan Partylist
  90. EveryWoman
  91. Liberal Party
  92. Buhay Ang People Power Campaign Network
  93. Simbahan at Komunidad Laban sa Katiwalian
  94. Kilos Maralita
  95. Liberal Youth
  96. Women2022
  97. Manindigan Na!
  98. Magdalo Party
  99. Akbayan Youth
  100. Youth Against Kurakot
  101. Alyansa ng mga Samahang Pantao (ASAP)
  102. International Center on Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov)
  103. Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
  104. Katolikong Layko na may Pananampalataya at Paninindigan
  105. Ligaya ng Panginoon Community
  106. National Federation of Labor

Individuals (Filipinos For A Better Philippines):

  1. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan
  2. Archbishop Socrates B Villegas
  3. Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC
  4. Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC
  5. Fr Roberto C. Yap SJ
  6. Ramon del Rosario, Jr.
  7. Kenneth Isaiah Ibasco Abante
  8. Rogelio “Babes” Singson
  9. Former Senator Franklin M. Drilon
  10. Florencio “Butch” Abad
  11. Edilberto de Jesus
  12. Narzalina Lim
  13. Cielito F. Habito
  14. GEN Renato S De Villa, AFP (RET)
  15. Jose L. Cuisia Jr
  16. Teresita Quintos Deles
  17. Bertie Lim
  18. Patricia Licuanan
  19. Julia Abad
  20. MAJ Rene C Valencia, PA (RET) 
  21. Ed Chua
  22. Chito Salazar
  23. ​​EJ Qua Hiansen
  24. Lito Tayag
  25. Lilia de Lima
  26. Cielo Magno
  27. Kiko Aquino Dee
  28. Apa Ongpin
  29. Eirene Jhone E. Aguila
  30. Peter Perfecto
  31. Maureen Ava Mata
  32. Eunice Tanillon
  33. Domnina T. Rances
  34. Lito R. Pardo, BCBP
  35. Noel de los Reyes, BCBP
  36. Roberto D. Yap, ANIM ANI
  37. ADM Danilo Abinoja
  38. Dr. Minguita Padilla
  39. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, Liberal Party
  40. Dinna Louise C. Dayao
  41. Raffy Magno
  42. Dinky von Einsiedel
  43. Mercemarie F. Atian
  44. Ian Rafael S. Corpus
  45. Ayna Punzalan
  46. Raymac Rosales
  47. Mark Robert A. Castillo
  48. Joseph Benjamin I. Ilan
  49. Rogelio M. Ilagan
  50. Jomar F. Rabajante
  51. Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo 
  52. Gella Leaño
  53. Karl Ramirez
  54. Jaime V. Hernandez, Jr.
  55. Roger Palacio II
  56. James Nathaniel Refugio
  57. Francis “Kapi” Capistrano
  58. Louievec Diane H. Zoilo
  59. Abner Manlapaz
  60. Erwin Alampay
  61. Andrew Yan
  62. Luisito Miguel Caro Gepuela
  63. Ramon Dominic A. Nobleza
  64. Pamela Gloria Cajilig
  65. Timothy James L. Cipriano
  66. Francisco Paulo Panergayo
  67. Ben Secretario
  68. Benjamin T. Tolosa, Jr.
  69. Dr. Alberto M. Ong Jr.
  70. COL Plaridel  M Abaya, PC (Ret) 
  71. LTGEN Edilberto P Adan, AFP (RET) 
  72. COL Guillermo G Cunanan, PAF (RET) 
  73. PLTC Alejandro T Flores, PC (RET) 
  74. GEN Victor Ibrado, AFP (RET)  (ANI)
  75. VADM Emilio C Marayag, AFP (RET) 
  76. BGEN Manuel Mariano, AFP (RET)
  77. VADM Mateo M Mayuga, AFP (RET) 
  78. BGEN Eliseo M Rio JR, AFP (RET) 
  79. MGEN Melchor P Rosales, AFP (RET) 
  80. COL Mariano R Santiago, PC (RET) 
  81. PGEN Recaredo A Sarmiento II, PNP (RET) 
  82. LTGEN Raul S Urgello  PA (Ret) 
  83. GEN Alexander B Yano, AFP (RET) 
  84. BGEN Rodrigo T Diapana, AFP (RET)
  85. Tieza Santos
  86. Jo Mariza David
  87. Andy Belmonte
  88. Wilfredo Prilles, Jr.
  89. Louis Emmanuel I. Talaguit
  90. Roferth D.A. Dayao
  91. Eric Cabahug
  92. Jaime Crisostomo
  93. Annabelle B. Bonje
  94. Jose Rafael M. Hernandez, Jr.
  95. Teddy Baguilat Jr
  96. Jeoffrey Mhar M. Larua, Board Member, Cordilleran Youth Center Inc. 
  97. Dr. Maurice Ramirez
  98. J. Ebreo
  99. Atty. Daphne Marcelo
  100. Rachelle A. Madarang
  101.  Mary Abigail Modales
  102. Isola Tong
  103. David Delano D’Angelo
  104. Mike Calleja
  105. Rosar P. Crisostomo
  106. Karen S. Crisostomo 
  107. Aneka S. Crisostomo 
  108. Mihali S. Crisostomo
  109. Juancho S. Crisostomo
  110. Boyet Rafael
  111. Ditas Rafael
  112. Franchette (Shey) Abonita Dulfo 
  113. Joanaviva C. Plopenio

  114. Errol Ivan C. Badong

  115. Jason Keith
 Pura 
  116. Jacobe B. Gaddi

  117. Elmer Sto. Domingo, Jr.
  118. Patricia Enriquez
  119. Liane Peña Alampay
  120. Adelfo Briones
  121. Arvin Boller
  122. Joshua Uyheng 
  123. Josephine P Perez
  124. Cristina Montiel
  125. Yzekiel Venn L. Rivera, UP ALYANSA
  126. Humphrey Soriano
  127. Angelito S. Obillo Jr.
  128. Jadi Miguel Castroverde
  129. Archimedes de Jesus
  130. Maria Cristina P. Bawagan
  131. Xiao Chua
  132. Jet C. Riparip
  133. Al Mayoralgo
  134. Maria Kristina Nael
  135. Gerry Cacanindin
  136. April Joy Flores Cacanindin
  137. RAdm Rommel Jason L Galang, PN (RET)

  138. COL Danny P Oabunan
  139. Danilo A. Songco
  140. Myk Gregory L. Albao
  141. Lorie S. Manalansan
  142. Ma. Carmela Francia T. Peña
  143. Maria Diana Bianca T. Peña
  144. Ma. Veronica Victoria T. Peña
  145. Carlo Aristotle Magno T. Peña
  146. Lorie S. Manalansan
  147. Fr Ernald Andal SJ
  148. Mr Pedro Rufo N Soliven
  149. Minette Soriano
  150. Fr Michael Pineda SJ
  151. Eric Ylagan
  152. Evelyn Ylagan
  153. Reigner Sanchez
  154.  Atty Mila Raquid-Arroyo
  155. Mylce Mella-Competente
  156. Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel
  157. Mayor Benjie Magalong, Baguio City
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